Unit 7 — Note lengths
Quarter, half, dotted half and whole notes; quarter and half rests; three in a bar; eighth notes. Unit 7 teaches rhythm on one key first, then the songs you know, played along in time for the first time.
Songs in this unit
Unit 7 is rhythm. Quarter, half, dotted half and whole notes; quarter and half rests; three beats in a bar; eighth notes. Each is tapped on one key first, rhythm alone, and then the songs you already know are played along in time, for the first time without the music waiting for you.
- Prerequisite: Unit 6.
- New notes: none.
- Ideas: note values, rests, three-four time.
What you learn
| Value | Beats | Looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter note | 1 | Filled head, stem |
| Half note | 2 | Open head, stem |
| Dotted half note | 3 | Open head, stem, dot |
| Whole note | 4 | Open head, no stem |
| Eighth notes | ½ each, two to a beat | Filled heads joined by a beam |
| Quarter rest | 1 beat of silence | A zigzag |
| Half rest | 2 beats of silence | A block sitting on the middle line |
Time signatures: 4/4 (four beats in a bar) and 3/4 (three: strong, weak, weak).
The sittings, in order
- Note lengths (concept). A quarter is one beat, a half two, a whole four: count them aloud.
- Tap the rhythm. Quarter, half and whole notes in 4/4, on one key: tap it as written, then tap back what you hear.
- Use it: Lightly Row, in time. The first song played along with the beat, not waited for.
- Rests (concept). A rest is counted like a note: the beat goes on.
- Rhythm with rests. Quarter and half rests added.
- Three in a bar (concept). 3/4: strong, weak, weak; the dotted half fills a bar.
- Rhythm in three. 3/4 with dotted halves.
- Eighth notes. Two to a beat: count "one and two and".
- Use it: Amazing Grace, in time. Three in a bar, a pick-up, and pairs of eighth notes, played along. It comes after the eighths, so every length in it has been tapped first.
- Mix. Pitch and rhythm together: rhythm taps, phrases and echo.
- Checkpoint. Cards, a short mix, rhythms and a phrase.
How "in time" works
A song played along counts you in, then keeps going at its tempo. Each note is judged perfect, good, early, late or missed; a run with no note in time doesn't pass. You can slow the tempo right down. In every other sitting the music still waits for you.
Teaching notes
- Count aloud, always. Say every number, even through long notes and rests.
- Tap the beat with a foot, or the other hand, while you play.
- The dot adds half again. A half note is two beats; a dotted half, three.
- A rest is part of the music. Lift on the count, and count through it.
Common mistakes
- Shortening the half note. Hold it through both counts.
- Rushing through rests. Keep the count going; don't start the next note early.
- Counting a 3/4 bar as four. The dotted half, filling the bar, is the tell.
Related guides
Next: Unit 8 — Outward. Back to the whole path.